General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRequesting supportive energy and prayer from this community for my Mom.
She is nearly 90, and facing a difficult surgery for intestinal blockage.
They wouldn't be pursuing the surgical option at all if she weren't physically pretty robust, so there is reason to be hopeful of a good outcome. But she's also dealing with memory issues and the hospitalization and recovery will be very challenging for her.
It's a painful time. She's been hanging on in her half-duplex but really needs more help on a day to day basis, so we were hoping to get her participation in moving to an assisted living apartment. She was very conflicted about it, and was supposed to leave Monday for a visit to me, to discuss and relax a bit, while my sister in the Twin Cities did some prep and groundwork-laying for the move.
She began experiencing mild discomfort on Sunday but assumed it was something minor. She got all the way on the airplane before her distress became acute-- props to the Delta Crew who deplaned her and waited with her while my sister was called back from dropping her off, to take her to the emergency room.
The intestinal blockage was diagnosed quickly and they hoped it would clear with IV fluids and hospital supervision, but that doesn't seem to be happening.
Hold her in the Light, send good thoughts. This is a powerful community and I'm glad you're here.
hopefully,
Bright
babylonsister
(171,104 posts)jeffreyi
(1,945 posts)A hard row to hoe. Are all the legals in order? Advance directive for health care, power of attorney, bank accounts appropriately accessible, can someone be named a conservator if necessary?
Been there, done that. Not easy, and the most important thing is that she's as happy and comfortable as possible.
mfcorey1
(11,001 posts)blaze
(6,385 posts)My Mom, 93, is in pretty good shape for her age. Exercises regularly, eats right and pretty much does everything that someone her age should do.
Fortunately she has always been pretty pragmatic and, after a fall that required a temporary stay at a retirement facility, agreed that living by herself was no longer a good idea. My sister and I arranged for an aide to come in for about six hours a day while I started the process of finding a place that I thought would be a good fit for her.
Sending many good vibes for your mom's surgery and more vibes for path ahead.
Supportively
Blaze
TheBlackAdder
(28,239 posts)dlk
(11,591 posts)irisblue
(33,041 posts)Good Hopes and Wishes for all of her Beloveds
sarge43
(28,946 posts)Please keep us posted
Dem2theMax
(9,656 posts)Please keep us posted on how she is doing, and you and your sister take care of yourselves as well.
gademocrat7
(10,679 posts)Take care.
wendyb-NC
(3,342 posts)sending positive vibes her way, and also lifting you up, too. Blessings.
SayItLoud
(1,702 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)And hugs to you and your family. Shes in good hands with you and your sister.
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)Lonestarblue
(10,125 posts)ChazII
(6,206 posts)Tanuki
(14,926 posts)Praying for healing and that she will be free of any pain or fear.
Stuart G
(38,454 posts)alwaysinasnit
(5,077 posts)yourself, and all your family. Please keep us posted.
Bettie
(16,139 posts)for your mom.
gopiscrap
(23,766 posts)and strength and peace for all your family and close ones
colorado_ufo
(5,739 posts)Harker
(14,067 posts)Sincerely,
Harker
RT Atlanta
(2,517 posts)Hoping all goes well and that she'll be in comfort soon and on the path to a speedy recovery!
shenmue
(38,506 posts)LisaM
(27,848 posts)She sounds amazingly resilient (and I'm glad to hear that the airline crew took care of her). I hope it goes well. I will be thinking of her.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)she has a very intelligent, sensible and caring child looking out for her.
My wish is that you are both at the same Thanksgiving table later this month.
Leghorn21
(13,527 posts)course of treatment, Bright!
Sending best and brightest good wishes to you and dearest Mom!
Sandy
sdfernando
(4,947 posts)Hang in there..Its difficult and I understand. My Dad is 92 and was recently hospitalized for antibiotic resistant UTI. Was a tough go but he is back at the ALF now.
Hope all turns out great for your Mom!
pnwest
(3,266 posts)recovery. You might be able to have her go to rehab in a senior living facility that offers it, and then when she starts to make friends and take part in the activities, shell realize how good it is there, and how safe shell feel. My mom fought me hard, but now shes told me more than once shes comfortable and feels so safe in the place shes in. Its hell getting them there, but once there, they come to love it very quickly. Good luck 😊
RestoreAmerica2020
(3,439 posts)...
Karadeniz
(22,599 posts)He was in a coma, ICU, the doctors weren't hopeful. You should have seen the scar from the repair...looked like they were trying to cut him in two. I'm not into doctrine and I'd never think striking a bargain with the god system is helpful, but I went to the hospital chapel for some quiet and to send him healing thoughts. Well! As I was projecting good vibes...and you must understand that my father was the only person I felt loved by, so I was deep down depressed at possibly losing him...suddenly an image of my father in the operating room came to me, a doctor working on him, nurses. His naked stomach...more than ample...was exposed and my mind zeroed in on it. Now comes the part I'd never have thought of. About five or seven fairies (!!!!) Were dancing around on his tummy! Naturally, my brain sort of rebelled at that vision, so they immediately tweaked themselves into Tinkerbell-looking fairies, a slight change that made me actually smile and a bit happy. I enjoyed looking at their antics. They were jumping and dancing, flitting around and having a fun time, but also in some way connected to the surgeon. As I watched and their happiness spread to me, it came to my mind that dad would be fine. And then I came out of it, but I knew in my heart that there was nothing to worry about...my state of mind was transformed and I was actually in a good mood! I knew dad was safe.
So! If you need an image to help in sending healing vibes to mom, you can borrow my Tinkerbells and picture them helping! I don't spend any time trying to reconnect to fairies, but here's a head-scratching thought: Elizabeth kubler-Ross firmly held that she could see fairies! You'd almost think there were things that pass our understanding!
intheflow
(28,514 posts)May her discomfort be short, her recovery swift, and your hearts grow lighter soon, Dear TygrBright.
Hekate
(90,930 posts)bluestarone
(17,101 posts)To you also!!
TygrBright
(20,776 posts)So far, so good- Mom went into surgery this afternoon, and they found a single blockage which they were able to resolve laparoscopically- a "minimally invasive" procedure.
She was in good spirits before she went in and the reports are that she tolerated the procedure very well and should recover with some time and help. I'm hoping to talk to her tonight or tomorrow morning on the phone- she's still a bit groggy so no calls for a bit.
Now we face the usual challenges of elder care when health issues enter the picture. Of course, she wants to go "home", and she needs more care than she can get there.
But hopefully she will be able to participate in the process, and recover as fully as possible.
I'll update y'all as we learn more, and again, so many thanks for all the good wishes, prayers, and even Tinkerbells! I am certain they helped.
This is an amazing and wonderful community.
gratefully,
Bright
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)candle for a speedy and fruitful recovery. Go Mom!
Marthe48
(17,079 posts)My m-i-l had a large benign tumor removed from her large intestine when she was in her 80s. She did fine through the surgery and lived to be almost 96. She too had memory problems and totally forget she had the surgery.
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)TruckFump
(5,812 posts)mia
(8,363 posts)NCLefty
(3,678 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)DFW
(54,465 posts)It's not easy, especially when their memory begins to fade. But my mom-in-law went through an intestinal blockage, too (it was malignant), had surgery and and beat it. If your mom is robust, she should be able to withstand this. She'll need some TLC at first, but it can amaze you how some elderly people can bounce back. My mom in law was once so sick, the hospital called in a priest (she is Catholic) to administer the last rites. The priest nearly fell over backwards when he met her walking on the street a month later as if nothing had happened.
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)-- Mal
Erda
(107 posts)To your mother, to you and to all of your family.
May your mother recover fully and return to excellent health.
With love from
Erda
yellerpup
(12,254 posts)pandr32
(11,636 posts)denbot
(9,901 posts)LyndaG
(683 posts)May she have a complete and successful recovery.
TygrBright
(20,776 posts)She is recovering well, if slowly, and has friends visiting her. She said the "roto-rooter" went well, and she was full of gratitude for the help from the airline (thanks, Delta!), my sister, and all the prayers and good wishes from family, friends, and friends of family.
Getting all of that out was pretty good evidence that she's coming back strong if slow. Keeping body parts crossed- she is still a bit confused (thinks the surgery was '3 days ago' rather than yesterday) but cheerful and acquiring a whole new chapter of her fan club among the hospital staff.
It simply amazes me how wonderful human beings CAN be, and I am so grateful for all of you here on DU who make that commitment on a regular basis.
appreciatively,
Bright
crickets
(25,988 posts)So happy for you & your mom. May she continue to improve every day.
marlakay
(11,526 posts)Namaste.